The announcement that The X-Files will be returning to television has brought great joy to X-Philes (fans of the series) who have waited 13 years for a conclusion. The news will also give horror gamers a reason to be re-acquainted with this forgotten classic, The X-Files: Resist or Serve for the PlayStation 2.
The X-Files: Resist or Serve was one of those great horror games that was simply overlooked when it was released. Yet it was a well-crafted game that incorporated the iconic show within the context of a traditional horror survival.
I Want To Belive
A quick recap: The X-Files was a science fiction horror drama that focused on the exploits of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully who investigate cases that involve extraterrestrial and paranormal phenomena. The main story arc focused on the agents trying to uncover a hidden conspiracy to conceal the existence of extraterrestrial life while trying to stop the Syndicate and their plot to help the Colonist conquer earth.
The series lasted from 1993 to 2002, becoming one of the longest-running science fiction series in television history and had a huge influence on pop culture. The series also spawned two movies, two spin-off series and a few video games with The X-Files: Resist or Serve being the only good one.
The Truth Is Out There
The X-Files: Resist or Serve is set during Season 7 (November 7, 1999 – May 21, 2000) with Agents Mulder and Scully investigating a series of murders along with strange events in Red Fall, Colorado. At first, it’s assumed that the murders are the alleged of witches but during the investigation it is uncovered that something more sinister is at work and it involves both the Syndicate and the Colonist.
The game was able to capture the essence the series thanks to the work of X-Files writer Tom Schnauz along with the performance of the original cast. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reunited to play their iconic roles while Mitch Pileggi returned as FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner, William B. Davis joined in too as the Smoking Man along with Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund as the Lone Gunmen.
The gameplay uses the elements of Resident Evil as a template to give gamers a sense of familiarity but adding content that accommodates the traits of the playable characters. Agent Mulder’s role was about fighting monsters within the context of the horror survival genre. Agent Scully’s role was about puzzle solving which required her to investigating crime scenes and bodies to then develop a scientific explanation.
Trust No One
The game was released in 2004 (three years after the series ended) for the PlayStation 2 and it was met with mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised it for keeping the themes of the series while panning it for what they saw as a weak gameplay that imitated Resident Evil. Some also felt that the action was too repetitive while the puzzles were unnecessarily difficult at some points.
To be fair; the game was released during a time when Movie/TV-games were usually guaranteed to fail (007 GoldenEye being the exception). Yet it was able to surprise critics for being an exceptionally crafted horror game that stayed true to the X-Files mythology. Also, the gameplay should have received a pass since Resident Evil-esque gameplay was the ideal template for the genre at the time.
The X-Files: Resist or Serve was one of those great works of horror that was ignored by gamers when it was released. Despite its shortcomings, both horror fans and X-Philes will still appreciate how it continued the series through the gaming medium. Hopefully, the return of the show will inspire the release of an HD version for the PlayStation 4.
